What does a chlamydia test check for?

A chlamydia test kit will check whether you have genital chlamydia, but will not check for chlamydia in the anus or throat. If you would like to check for rectal or oral chlamydia, we offer a seperate anal chlamydia test or oral chlamydia test.

Superdrug Online Doctor offers a chlamydia testing kit that can be discreetly sent to your home. You send a sample to our lab using the test kit. For men the sample is a urine (pee) sample, for women it’s a vaginal swab.

How do you test for oral chlamydia?

This test does not check for oral chlamydia (in the mouth). But, we also offer an Oral Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test, which can detect chlamydia in the mouth and throat.

The Oral chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test is easy to use and is between 91% and 100% sensitive at picking up infections. You take the test using an oral swab which you then send off in the post.

Do chlamydia tests check for Gonorrhoea?

This test does not check for gonorrhoea, but we also offer a combined Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea test. You will need to order a separate kit for genitals, mouth or throat, or anus. We also have an Extended STI Kit that tests for a wider range of STIs such as Gonorrhoea and Herpes.

How is chlamydia tested for in men?

For men, the Superdrug home test kit is a urine (pee) test. It contains a small plastic sample bottle, as well as another large bottle. You will use the small bottle to collect your pee. Try to collect your sample the first time you pee that day, as it will give a more accurate result.

When you have collected your sample, you will place the small bottle in the bigger bottle, along with the absorbent paper supplied. Then simply fill out your details and send your sample back to us. You get your test result within 2 to 3 days after we get your sample in the post.

Men can also get tested for chlamydia with a urethral swab test, this is usually carried out by a doctor during an appointment, but the urine method is just as effective, and easier to do.

How is chlamydia tested for in women?

For women, the Superdrug home test kit is a vaginal swab test, which looks a little bit like a long cotton bud. You insert the swab into your vagina and rotate it for 10 to 15 seconds. When you have got your sample, place the swab into the tube provided. Then simply fill out your details and send your sample back to us. You get your test result within 2 to 3 days after we get your sample in the post.

Women can also get tested for chlamydia with a urine (pee) test, but results are less accurate than a swab test.

Yes, you can order the Superdrug Chlamydia Test Kit and do it at home. This is one of the easiest and most discreet ways to safely and accurately test for chlamydia. You can carry out your test privately and one of our online doctors will confidentially share your results with you.

Can I get a chlamydia test in the post?

Yes, the Superdrug Chlamydia Test Kit arrives in the post, and you can post it right back to us. Your test kit will arrive in a plain, unmarked envelope, so you will not need to travel to your local GP or sexual health clinic to get your test or your results. This is a very discreet and convenient option to get tested for chlamydia.

Can I get a chlamydia test over the counter?

You can buy chlamydia tests over the counter, but ordering through Superdrug Online Doctor is a much more discreet option. It can be delivered conveniently to your door and your results are confidentially shared with you online.

Can I get a chlamydia test with a doctor?

You can get a chlamydia test with your doctor. If you would feel more comfortable doing a chlamydia test with face to face guidance from a professional, contact your GP to find out how to make an appointment. They may refer you to a sexual health clinic. The doctor or nurse you see will advise you on how you can accurately collect your sample and answer any specific questions or personal concerns you may have.

How to get a chlamydia test for free

Your local sexual health clinic will offer free chlamydia tests. Find the one closest to you on the NHS website. If you would prefer to carry out a test at home or do not have a sexual health clinic that you can safely get to, our test kit may be a more convenient option.

You will usually get your results within 2 to 3 working days from that day we get your sample. You will receive a message from the medical team as soon as they get your results back from the lab.

It can be tricky to know when you should get tested, as chlamydia often shows no symptoms for many people, who can carry and spread it without knowing. If you are sexually active, it’s recommended that you should get tested at least every year or every time you change sexual partners, or have unprotected sex. You should also get tested if you have symptoms, or a partner has symptoms

When should I get tested for chlamydia after exposure?

Wait 14 days after potential exposure to get tested so you can get the most accurate result, or as soon as you have symptoms. Then, get tested again six weeks later to confirm your result.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms, but there are a few that men and women can both have. These usually become noticeable between one and three weeks after having unprotected sex and becoming exposed to chlamydia. Please note that even if the symptoms disappear after a few weeks or days, you may still have the infection and be able to pass it on to others.

Common symptoms in men include:

• pain when peeing
• white, cloudy or watery discharge
• burning or itching urethra
• pain in the testicles

Common symptoms in women include:

• pain when peeing
• unusual discharge
• pain in the tummy or pelvis
• pain during sex
• bleeding after sex
• bleeding between periods

What treatment is there for chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, so antibiotics like doxycycline are most commonly recommended. Antibiotics will stop the bacteria from reproducing and stop the spread of infection. Azithromycin is another antibiotic prescribed to people with chlamydia, but is no longer recommended for most people. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an allergy, it is not safe to take doxycycline, and your doctor will prescribe you different antibiotics after consulting with you.

Side effects during treatment are very rare and are often very mild. Your doctor may prescribe you a longer course of treatment if they are worried you have developed complications as a result of getting chlamydia.

How accurate are chlamydia tests?

If the test is done correctly, chlamydia tests can be up to 100% effective at detecting Chlamydia, and false positive results are very uncommon.

To get your most accurate sample for the test, wait at least 14 days after potential exposure before doing your chlamydia test. Whether you are doing a urine sample or a swab test, make sure you have clean hands, and that the swab or sample tube does not touch any unclean surfaces. This may contaminate your sample and affect your result, which may mean you have to take the test again.

What does my result mean?

Tests will come back as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’. Positive means that you have chlamydia, negative means that no infection has been found. Whatever your result, your online doctor will then follow up with your next steps.

Sometimes, your doctor will tell you that your result has come back as ‘inconclusive’. This means that your result was not clear cut enough either way, so you will have to take another chlamydia test in the same way you did before.

What should I do after I get my results?

Our doctors will be in touch to give you your results. They will provide advice on your next steps, treatment, and whether you need to take a follow-up test to confirm your results.

We will always contact you discreetly via our encrypted patient account, and will never contact you with information about your diagnosis by text or email.